Who West Ham Should Sign This January Transfer Window

After West Ham encountered what can only be described as a miserable summer transfer window, the owners will be looking to reverse their wrongdoing and bolster the East London club’s forces this winter. These summer signings are already being linked with January moves away:

Sofiane Feghouli

Simone Zaza

Gokhan Tore

Jonathan Calleri

Therefore we can expect David Sullivan to replace these foreign flops with Premier League-proven talents. Here are the players which Slaven Bilic should purchase in order to save West Ham’s season:

Jermain Defoe:

The ex-Hammer has played for several Premier League clubs and has vast experience in both the top-half and the bottom-half of the league. Even at the age of 34, Jermain Defoe has scored 23 league goals since the beginning of the 15/16 season. He would be a great short term option until the end of the season – considering West Ham’s current strikers have only scored four league goals between them this season, compared to Defoe’s eight. The majority of West Ham fans feel that the heart and soul of the East London club has been stripped since the Stratford move, and perhaps an ex player rejoining the team would lift spirits. The striker had an inconvenient ending with the West Ham, but if the fans can move on and cheer him on the pitch instead of booing, then I am sure he could move on too.

Predicted fee: £10-14 million

Mamadou Sakho:

In recent weeks West Ham have resulted to playing three at the back to improve their performances, which has resulted in Senegalese midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate forced to play centre-back. Not only has this removed a goal threat from the West Ham team but it is restraining Kouyate’s freedom and game potential. The recruitment of a new centre-back would allow Kouyate to move back up the pitch whilst continuing the successful 3-4-2-1 formation which has seen West Ham collect 9 points from their previous 3 games, including a 4-1 win away to Swansea on boxing day. Mamadou Sakho would be an example of a realistic Premier-league proven defender, who some fans were arguing him to be one of the best in the Premier League only a couple of seasons ago. His exclusion from the Liverpool side this season could see him opt for week-in-week-out first team football, which West Ham would offer him. A loan deal until the end of the season is a realistic option which David Sullivan is likely to look at.

Predicted fee: Loan

Branislav Ivanovic:

Perhaps a more difficult pursuit than the other two, it was only a year and a half ago that the Serbian right-back was lifting the Premier League trophy. He was considered one of the best in his position, and he played every week for the Chelsea team that won the Premier League. However this season under Antonio Conte, Ivanovic has been excluded due to the adaptation of Victor Moses to a right wing-back position, leaving no room for the Serbia captain. His circumstances are unfortunate and he would do a successful job for most teams in the Premier League, considering his versatility and constant goal threat, alongside his defensive qualities and experience. The purchase of a right-back would also allow West Ham to play the 4-2-3-1 formation which made them so successful last year, meaning Kouyate can push up to midfield again too.